Toronto Film School’s Madeleine Sims-Fewer Named TIFF 2020 Rising Star
Toronto Film School instructor Madeleine Sims-Fewer has been named one of the Rising Stars of the 2020 Toronto International Film Festival.
The British-Canadian actor and filmmaker was singled out as one of four female acting talents showcased in this year’s TIFF Rising Stars programme for her starring role in Violation, which she also co-wrote, co-directed and co-produced alongside fellow Toronto Film School faculty member, Dusty Mancinelli.
“Madeleine being selected as a TIFF Rising Star gives the film a bit more momentum in a crowded market – especially a micro-budget where this was made with a lot of love and passion,” Mancinelli recently told The Canadian Press of his filmmaking partner’s recognition as one of the next generation of acting talents ‘poised for global success.’
“Trying to compete against these big films has always been really challenging. So, to have TIFF’s support and the TIFF Rising Stars is just a really great way to hopefully get some attention from some of these bigger buyers.”
Violation is set to mark its world premiere during the Midnight Madness programme of TIFF’s “reimagined physical and digital festival,” which kicked off its pandemic-tailored line-up of just 50 new feature films and five programmes of short films on Sept. 10.
“For us it’s really exciting being part of TIFF this year because of that extra focus,” Sims-Fewer told The Canadian Press of her surprise at having her and Mancinelli’s first-ever feature make the TIFF cut in such a pared-down lineup.
Billed as the filmmaking duo’s “deeply disturbing” debut feature, Violation tells the story of a troubled woman on the edge of divorce who returns home to her younger sister after years apart, only to embark on a vicious crusade of revenge when her trust is betrayed.
Violation marks its sold-out premiere on Monday, Sept. 14 at 9 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. at TIFF Bell Lightbox.
Sims-Fewer, who teaches in both Toronto Film School’s Acting for Film, TV & the Theatre and Film Production programs, will also take part in a Women on the Rise panel discussion alongside her fellow Rising Stars Sheila Atim, Rainbow Dickerson and Tanya Maniktala on Monday, Sept. 14 at 11 a.m.
Moderated by Ravi Srinivasan, the panelists will be invited to discuss the roles they have played thus far, the actors and creators they would most like to work with, the moment they knew they wanted to become actors, and much more. To access this panel and other TIFF Industry Conference events, register for a pass here.
You can watch Sims-Fewer and Mancinelli’s short film Woman in Stall, which won the Grand Jury Prize for Best Narrative Short at the 2019 Slamdance Film Festival, here:
